IELTS Reading: Marie Curie

IELTS Reading: The life and work of Marie Curie

True, False, Not Given questions.

Answer questions 7 – 11 using only the information taken from the text which contains the answers.

Try them yourself first, then scroll down for answers and my video talk-through.

Questions 7 – 11

TRUE it the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

Marie Curie is probably the most famous woman scientist who has ever lived. Born Maria Sklodowska in Poland in 1867, she is famous for her work on radioactivity, and was twice a winner of the Nobel Prize. With her husband, Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, she was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics, and was then sole winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

7. Marie Curie’s husband was a joint winner of both Maria‘s Nobel Prizes.

From childhood, Marie was remarkable for her prodigious memory, and at the age of 16 won a gold medal on completion of her secondary education. Because her father lost his savings through bad investment, she then had to take work as a teacher.

8. Marie became interested in science when she was a child.

From her earnings, she was able to finance her sister Bronia’s medical studies in Paris, on the understanding that Bronia would, in turn, later help her to get an education. In 1891 this promise was fulfilled and Marie went to Paris and began to study at the Sorbonne (the University of Paris).

9.Marie was able to attend the Sorbonne because of her sister’s financial contribution.

The births of Marie’s two daughters, Irene and Eve, in 1897 and 1904 failed to interrupt her scientific work.

10. Marie stopped doing research for several years when her children were born.

The sudden death of her husband in 1906 was a bitter blow to Marie Curie, but was also a turning point in her career: henceforth she was to devote all her energy to completing alone the scientific work that they had undertaken. On May 19, 1906, she was appointed to the professorship that had been left vacant on her husband’s death, becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne.

11. Marie took over the teaching position her husband had held.

Marie also gave lectures in Belgium. Brazil, Spain and Czechoslovakia and, in addition, had the satisfaction of seeing the development of the Curie Foundation in Paris and the inauguration in 1932 in Warsaw of the Radium Institute, where her sister Bronia became the director.

12. Marie‘s sister Bronia studied the medical uses of radioactivity.

Now check your answers:

7. Marie Curie’s husband was a joint winner of both Maria‘s Nobel Prizes.FALSEMarie Curie is probably the most famous woman scientist who has ever lived. Born Maria Sklodowska in Poland in 1867, she is famous for her work on radioactivity, and was twice a winner of the Nobel Prize. With her husband, Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, she was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics, and was then sole winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

8. Marie became interested in science when she was a child. NOT GIVENFrom childhood, Marie was remarkable for her prodigious memory, and at the age of 16 won a gold medal on completion of her secondary education. Because her father lost his savings through bad investment, she then had to take work as a teacher.

9. Marie was able to attend the Sorbonne because of her sister’s financial contribution. TRUE

From her earnings, she was able to finance her sister Bronia’s medical studies in Paris, on the understanding that Bronia would, in turn, later help her to get an education. In 1891 this promise was fulfilled and Marie went to Paris and began to study at the Sorbonne (the University of Paris).

9. Marie stopped doing research for several years when her children were born. FALSE

The births of Marie’s two daughters, Irene and Eve, in 1897 and 1904 failed to interrupt her scientific work.

10. Marie took over the teaching position her husband had held. TRUE

The sudden death of her husband in 1906 was a bitter blow to Marie Curie. but was also a turning point in her career: henceforth she was to devote all her energy to completing alone the scientific work that they had undertaken. On May 19, 1906, she was appointed to the professorship that had been left vacant on her husband’s death, becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne.

12. Marie‘s sister Bronia studied the medical uses of radioactivity. NOT GIVEN

Marie also gave lectures in Belgium. Brazil, Spain and Czechoslovakia and, in addition, had the satisfaction of seeing the development of the Curie Foundation in Paris and the inauguration in 1932 in Warsaw of the Radium Institute, where her sister Bronia became the director.

Watch my video to help you with True/False/Not Given here:

More tips:

Watch this Ted Talk video about the life of Marie Curie – it will give you listening practice, help build your vocabulary and understanding of the subject.